Did the bezel need to be removed to replace gaskets on this watch?

[Stokestack]

Hi all.

I have an early-'90s Tag Heuer women's watch here, whose battery I just had replaced by a local shop. This shop has been reliable in the past, but this time we got the watch back and the bezel no longer clicks; it also binds occasionally. It does still resist being turned the wrong way, though.

I went back to the shop to confront them about it, and they said they don't do anything to the bezel when replacing the battery. But I always have the gaskets fully replaced, to make the watch safe for diving. I thought the guy had mentioned needing to replace a crystal gasket or front gasket of some kind when I brought it in, to ensure full waterproofing. I always have shops do the full overhaul and pressure test as necessary.

So... thoughts?

 

Edited September 21, 2024 by Stokestack

[AndyGSi]

Welcome to the forum

If the crystal wasn't being replaced then there's no reason to replace the gasket unless it failed when testing.

What kind of shop did you take it too?

Edit

Just had a closer look and it's a fake anyway.

Edited September 21, 2024 by AndyGSi

[Stokestack]

From what do you conclude that it's fake? It has been serviced by Pro Time in NJ before and they didn't raise any issue. I own three Tags of this vintage.

Edited September 22, 2024 by Stokestack

[clockboy]

I have not worked on a TAG watch but most bezels have a click style spring under the bezel which creates the click and some calibres it stops movement in an anti clockwise turn. I don’t see any reason to remove the bezel to change a battery. If the bezel was stiff to turn then yes they have to be removed to clean. 

Edited September 22, 2024 by clockboy

[Neverenoughwatches]

Did you specifically ask for a waterproofing pressure test when you left it. Maybe it's the shop's standard proceedure to change the gaskets when doing this.  If so then i would have to assume thaf your bill when you picked it up would be in accordance with gasket changes at the 3 points of possible water entry,  crystal ,caseback and crown along with the battery change. Your invoice should have that  work detailed on it if thats the case, so if the crystal gasket was changed then the bezel would need to come off to do that. As regards to fake as Andy has suggested,  I'm kind of on the fence, its easier to determine in the in the hands. Certainly a fake would not house the correct movement for the watch, perhaps you could ask your guy to varify that, if it is fake personally I'd be very embarrassed to acmit i hadn't told you it was.

Just had another look, i think Andy is right , my gut is telling me it's a fake.

9 hours ago, AndyGSi said:

Welcome to the forum

If the crystal wasn't being replaced then there's no reason to replace the gasket unless it failed when testing.

What kind of shop did you take it too?

Edit

Just had a closer look and it's a fake anyway.

some particulars on the dial dont appear to line up, the overall finish looks poor.

[AndyGSi]

2 hours ago, Stokestack said:

From what do you conclude that it's fake? It has been serviced by Pro Time in NJ before and they didn't raise any issue. I own three Tags of this vintage.

The quality on the dial, hands and bezel isn't their for a genuine.

I'd be interested to see the back, clasp and crown.

As @Neverenoughwatches said the movement would also confirm this.

Edit

The Date Window is also incorrect.

Edited September 22, 2024 by AndyGSi

[Neverenoughwatches]

48 minutes ago, AndyGSi said:

The quality on the dial, hands and bezel isn't their for a genuine.

I'd be interested to see the back, clasp and crown.

As @Neverenoughwatches said the movement would also confirm this.

Edit

The Date Window is also incorrect.

Even with the difference in photo quality, the op's doesn't have that crisp finish, Walkers cheese and onion would appeal to me.  Date window is now very obviously incorrect. 

[Stokestack]

Thanks for the replies. First, yes, I always have the watch pressure-tested for diving after battery replacement. I've always been told that this requires replacing all gaskets.

I examined the watch in question under an inspection microscope, comparing it to a men's model of similar vintage bought at a different jeweler. I found the quality of the finish to be similar, and that the details of the women's watch match pictures I find online. The picture above does not match; it may be a different model. This is a WK1321. I can't find even one picture purporting to be of that model that matches the above picture.

Here are some better pics. I do think Pro Time would have called it out if it were fake.

 

Edited November 20, 2024 by Stokestack

[AndyGSi]

So this is a different watch from the one you first posted photos of.

[Stokestack]

8 hours ago, AndyGSi said:

So this is a different watch from the one you first posted photos of.

No; it's the same one. Just better pictures.